| Location: |
Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway |
| Geographic coordinates: |
62 00 N, 7 00 W |
| Map references: |
Europe |
| Area: |
total: 1,399 sq km
land: 1,399 sq km
water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams) |
| Area - comparative: |
eight times the size of Washington, DC |
| Land boundaries: |
0 km |
| Coastline: |
1,117 km |
| Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 3 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line |
| Climate: |
mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy |
| Terrain: |
rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast |
| Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m |
| Natural resources: |
fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas |
| Land use: |
arable land: 2.14%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.86% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: |
0 sq km |
| Natural hazards: |
NA |
| Environment - current issues: |
NA |
| Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Marine Dumping -associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution |
| Geography - note: |
archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands |
